The Beach Boys, Surf Music, and the British Invasion
Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys
* Formed in 1961 by Brian Wilson, his two brothers, a cousin, and a friend in Hawthorne, California
* Brian Wilson was the guiding spirit of the band during the group’s first decade.
* The defining model of the Beach Boys:
o Demonstrate mastery of early rock ’n’ roll
o Create original material based on and extending those styles
o Branch out beyond the forms, sounds, and lyrics of traditional rock ’n’ roll to create something truly unique
Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys
* The songs of the Beach Boys enshrined Wilson’s somewhat mythical version of California in the consciousness of young Americans.
o “Surfin’ Safari”
o “Surfer Girl”
o “The Warmth of the Sun”
o “California Girls”
* Wilson’s vision was inclusive even though it remained place specific.
Brian Wilson’s Journey from Imitation, through Emulation, to Innovation
* The Beach Boys’ first Top 10 hit, the famous “Surfin’ USA” (Number Three, 1963), simply borrows the music of Chuck Berry’s 1958 hit “Sweet Little Sixteen” with new words.
* The Beach Boys’ next hit, “Surfer Girl” (Number Seven, 1963), reinvigorated the sound and spirit of the doo-wop ballad by infusing it with California beach content.
* “Fun, Fun, Fun”